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Hey guys...
If I have one weak spot in my car knowledge, it is brakes. Haha, so I appreciate any help anyone can give.

Here's the deal. Does it seem to anyone else that the front brakes are super overworked? Like the ratio of rear brakes being applied to front brake being applied is off somewhat? When I am coming down from a fast acceleration to stop at a light, for example on an exit ramp, it seems like I really have to get on the brakes to slow down. But if I nudge the ebrake at the same time I am pressing the brake pedal, the braking seems much more smooth and efficient, and I don't feel as if I am getting pitched forward as much. It seems like much more of a level stopping, as opposed to sometimes when at high speeds and stopping on a decline I feel as if the car is going to pitch as5 over teacups. Is there any way maybe to have the rear brakes work harder during normal stopping to take some pressure from the front?

Also, when is a good time to get pads and shoes replaced? I have about 28k right now, and it seems like they are fading, and there is a slight groaning and slight vibration coming through the pedal in I would say one out of every 5 hard stops. I can't feel/hear it while braking normally, but if some jackas5 cuts me off or something and I get on it, I can hear/feel it once in a while. I thought brakes should last longer than that. I don't drive them too hard. I mean, like anyone else, I get on them once in a while, but for the most part, I let up on gas well before red lights and use engine braking. Again, any help is appreciated.

 
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thats why i have some rear disc brakes... hehe, umm search u will find many threads about big brakes and rear disc brakes

 
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I had to replace my brakes at about 15,000 miles. They were COMPLETELY gone, I mean when I was replacing them I was metal on metal. Every car should have rear-disc brakes, Drums blow. Hondas **** me off.

 
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Yeah I read a lot of threads about converting to rear disc. But it seems like the drums have the potential to stop me, but they are not being worked hard enough you know? I think I am correct in saying that the ebrake just actuates your rear drums with a cable rather than fluid right? This would explain why the ebrake is slightly more slack-ish (you get what I mean) when my foot in on the brake, because the shoes are already being pistoned by the hydraulic fluid. BUT, if I add more pressure, i.e. pull the handbrake WHILE I hit the brake pedal, I decelerate much more efficiently. Is there any way to I dunno, route more hydro fluid to them when I hit the pedal or adjust the shoe pressure with some sort of valve? Again...sorry for my lack of brake knowledge, but this is really pissing me off...

I have an 02 EX manual coupe, if that even makes a difference...

 
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i don't really suggest that u use ur ebrake, you might have a accedent and might not be able to release it and could make u to loose control and it would probly not allow ur abs to work properly.

but the si disc conversion works well on my ex, i really suggest it

 
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yeah... it sounds like rear disc is the way to go I guess.

I don't use the ebrake all the time. Just experiment with it. I don't think I could get anywhere NEAR locking my rear wheels no matter how hard I yank. lol damn dirty drum brakes...

 
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its all about weight transfer.

when you brake, weight gets transfered to the front. that makes the front have more traction and thus more important for braking (so they do most of the work) the rear brakes dont do much work because there is not much traciton on the rear tires while under braking.

Drum brakes on the rear are perfectly fine for our cars, If you really want to increase brake power I suggest upgrading both pad and shoe (Most people only upgrade the pads). Porterfield makes a Great pad and shoe in their R4-S compound. I have a set (Both Pad and shoe) and am More then Happy with them.

From what you are describing, you might be pouncing in the brakes too quickly and causeing the inbalance. Braking is a smooth action (being smooth does not mean slow) ease in on the pedal and ease off the pedal. Possibly when you use the E-Brake it causes you to act slower and smoother with the brake pedal which makes the whole stopping experiance much smoother.